Following a prolonged period of uncertainty, the party’s prospects appears to have brightened considerably after candidate Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani won the Kelantan state assembly seat with a majority of 3,352 votes.
“Winning the Nenggiri by-election will undoubtedly serve as a booster tonic for the leadership and delegates, injecting new energy into the general assembly,” said an Umno leader who declined to be named.
“But I expect that discussions will now focus on how Umno can enhance its role in the unity government while staying true to its core values of religion, race and country.”
Political analyst Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani said Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi will seek to leverage the Nenggiri victory to consolidate support and invigorate the party base.
“Zahid’s key message will be that Malay voters are returning to the party and that Umno can now stand on its own,” he told FMT.
“The party will also look to harness momentum from the general assembly to drive Umno to victory in the upcoming by-election in Johor.”
A by-election has been called for Sept 28 to fill the Mahkota state assembly seat in Johor following the death of incumbent Umno assemblyman Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain on Aug 2.
Awang Azman Pawi of Universiti Malaya also expects the general assembly to use the Nenggiri victory to highlight Zahid’s success in restoring voter confidence and improving the party’s reputation within the unity government.
“The Nenggiri victory has effectively silenced critics – not only rivals from Perikatan Nasional but also former members such as Annuar Musa and Khairy Jamaluddin.
“It stands as proof that with the right strategy, Umno can resonate with younger voters,” he said.
Zahid has faced calls for his resignation since the 2022 general election, following a crushing defeat the party suffered at the hands of PN when Umno won only 26 parliamentary seats, down from 54 four years earlier.
The party also struggled in last year’s state elections, winning only 19 of the 108 seats it contested.
Meanwhile, Asrul anticipates that delegates will continue to question Umno’s cooperation with DAP. However, he does not foresee a push for the party to withdraw from the unity government.
“The focus will be on the recent by-elections and what Umno can do without DAP,” he said.
Awang Azman suggested that delegates approach the DAP issue with caution, and called for them to air their concerns internally and discreetly.
“Umno’s defeat in the previous elections should still serve as a lesson,” he said, adding that the party should “foster greater humility and self-awareness”.
The Umno general assembly will be held from today to Saturday at the party’s headquarters at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur.